Deputies hit Salem theft operation, recovering $500,000 in shoplifted goods

A northeast Salem man has been accused of running a major retail theft operation after police recovered nearly a half-million dollars’ worth of stolen CDs, games and toys.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office concluded a months-long investigation with the arrest of Salvador “Sal” Barraza, 48, at his Salem home on Monday, Aug. 19. He was booked into the Marion County Jail on charges of first-degree theft, organized retail theft and laundering monetary instruments. He was…